Very rough winter made it difficult for police to get into some snowed-in streets
By Roberto Acosta
The Flint Journal
BURTON, Mich. (AP) — The deep snow of the past winter convinced Burton police they needed something that could get them through almost anything in an emergency.
Two 1987 AMC General military surplus Humvees ought to do the job.
Curious people walked up as Burton police Sgt. Kevin Kissel recently rolled into the parking lot of Tony’s Market off Lippincott Road on the 37-inch tires of one of the 5,960-pound behemoths painted all black, according to The Flint Journal.
“I thought the National Guard was here,” said Nae Sanders, 26, walking over to the store from a nearby neighborhood.
Police began searching for a rough-and-tumble vehicle following a record-breaking winter that led to problems for officers trying to get into some snowed-in streets.
“It was terrible. There were neighborhoods we couldn’t get to in our patrol cars. We ended up borrowing yellow trucks from (Department of Public Works) to respond to calls, said Kissel, who began the search at the request of police Chief Tom Osterholzer. “We’re all piling in, all four of us on a shift to try and make it. It was a disaster really. It was bad.”
Kissel began a search for true four-wheel-drive vehicles through a program run by the Defense Logistics Agency’s Disposition Services, which transferred more than $449 million in military equipment for use by law enforcement in 2013 alone. The Burton department has used the program in the past, receiving ballistic helmets, body armor and .223-caliber rifles.
After applying for 14 vehicles, Kissel was surprised when he was approved for all of them. He headed with a fellow officer to Columbus, Ohio, where he was able to climb through all the vehicles and pick the two he liked the most.
Osterholzer said a police Tahoe would cost more than $40,000 — and come in rear-wheel drive.
The federal program also offered the Humvees for a steal.
“We got the vehicles for free. The painting, the graphics, the emergency lighting were paid for out of drug forfeiture funds, so courtesy of your local drug dealer,” he said, noting the possible uses for the vehicle include tactical situations, weather emergencies and off-road vehicle accidents.
Compared to a typical police vehicle, Kissel said the seat can fold down, allowing up to eight officers to climb inside during emergency situations with full gear on. The Humvee is also equipped to drive through 30 inches of water and still operate, in case of flooding.
While the Ford Crown Victorias most officers use are not equipped with a tow package, Kissel said the Humvees could be used to pull vehicles out of ditches and other items.
“I could probably pull the doors off a house or a building with it if I had to, to make a breach point into something if they were to do that. It’s definitely rough and tough and we could use it for that,” he said.
A port on top of the vehicle used for weaponry — with the vehicle acting as a gunner truck in its military life — is able to be used for a different access point, and metal compartments for used to store ammunition, food and other items were sealed off.
“For our purposes, we’re not going to be carrying a bunch of 50-cal ammo around,” said Kissel. “We needed it smooth so we could get people in and out of it, equipment in and out of it.”
The vehicle could be used for patrols, but it does not come equipped with a partition to place suspects behind officers and needs to be equipped for a radio through its 24-volt power system.
“You can’t just plug it in like a cigarette lighter,” he said. Aside from its uses, he said the look may be a deterrent in some rougher areas of the city.
“They’re neat, they’re kind of intimidating-looking,” Kissel said. “It’s a Humvee. You don’t see it rolling down your street very often.”
